New life for the blog

Well how am I doing in the blog department? No por la caca I’d say. But, new year, new habits… maybe. Although I don’t do New Year’s resolutions (why not resolve whenever you see the need), it’s still as good a time as any, and maybe better than most to try and breathe new life into the blog.

I just completed a one-month show at the incredibly beautiful Open Shutter Gallery here in Durango. We kicked it off with an opening night extravaganza that combined my annual Christmas party fundraiser, with the gallery opening. We were able to raise over $3,500 for Project Merry Christmas, which is a local organization that does great work providing Christmas cheer and necessities to needy folks. It’s a great feeling to be able to help them out with some, much needed, cash. Many thanks to all who attended, and donated. And to Margy, Brandon, Mariah, and Bob at Open Shutter. Also a big thanks to Erik Maxson and Carver Brewing for donating the beer. Thanks also go out to Jeff and Sherry Watson from Nature’s Oasis for kicking in some wine for the party. And of course, huge thanks to Liane and Brett for manning the door and gently prying so much money from everyone. A great time was had by all… including the unnamed person who was puking off the back porch.

So it is that we go off into the very unknown territory of 2009… Lord have mercy! Let me just say: I think ‘09’ll be fine’… do I hear some Hallelujahs? But to help it be so, let’s all send out a big hearty dose of good luck to our man Barack: may you be ‘da Man’ we believe you are sir.

Below you’ll find some images from my show, many of which were shot in Yellowstone this fall. Enjoy.

Yellowstone Falls


Teton Triplets


Yellowstone Stream


Winter Patterns


Yellowstone Mineral Deposits


Yellowstone Gorge


Yellowstone Lake Shore


Lime Creek Slide Path

Arizona Cloud

Unnamed River

Just returned from a six day river trip on a river that will only be identified by UTM coordinates under several of the photos. Why the secrecy? I don't know... just seems like fun... for me. I think I'll make this a standard operating procedure just for the hell of it. I'll go somewhere; show and tell; and you, dear reader, can figure out where I was. My own little "Where's Waldo". 

Great trip... a little drizzle, a little snow, a fair amount of wind... at least you know you ain't playin' no f**kin' video game.

Not really any great photographic opportunities but a fun time was had by all.



                                                    12T 683103E   4481377N    Elev 1658M

                                                     12T 700109E   448234 N   Elev 1679M

                                                           Dancing creatures of the rocks

                                                                 Lookin' a little chilly



                                                     12T 672973E   4487303N   Elev 1550M 

                                                          12T 664457E  4489391N   Elev 1527M

Photography Shows and Contests

Since I intend for this to be a visual blog, I figure I better get some visuals up here. So here are some images which have recently either been accepted for a couple of photography shows or been awarded recognition in some contests.

I haven't been very interested in contests or shows since early on when I entered a couple of shows, only to be completely dumbfounded by the judging. Not that I thought I should have necessarily won, but that the judging was just so poor in general. Really fine images were overlooked in favor of crap (that's a technical photo term). Eventually I entered the Comm Arts Photo Annual Competition for a couple of years - to no avail, became frustrated, and quit entering any contests for awhile. It's not that the Comm Arts Photo Annual isn't filled with awesome imagery - it is - but there are always a few photos that come from what I like to refer to as the Stevie Wonder School of Photography - and actually that's not really fair, because I'm sure Stevie could take much better shots than the ones that seem to 'sneak' in every year. Some of these images I look at and am at a total loss. Never the less, a year or so ago I started entering different contests and shows again, figuring that I know I have good stuff and I can't worry about subjective judging - sooner or later some judge(s) would like my stuff. In the last year I've have had quite a bit of success. So now it's my crap instead of someone else's crap that's gotten in - it makes all the difference in the world.

Last year I won one of the sub-categories of the International Photography Awards (Historic Architecture) for a series of shots of Hovenweep National Monument and was 'nominated' for the International Color Awards for a shot of the Grand Canyon. Lately I've been selected for an international fine art show in San Diego and a national ASMP fine art show in Fort Collins CO.

The show in San Diego is the Art Of Photography Show and received over 12,000 entries from 46 countries, and 102 images were chosen. It would be easy to think that now I'm the sh*t, after besting those kind of odds. But just as you can't afford to get all down when you don't get selected, I don't think you can really get too fired up when you do. I'd be willing to bet that there were more than a few images not selected that even I would have chosen over my own if I were being totally objective. All that being said, it's a lot better to get in than not - it doesn't suck.

The show in Fort Collins is a national ASMP show at The Center For Fine Art Photography that they chose 50 images for. The image of mine that got in was one that I sent more or less as an afterthought - Liane chose it and I didn't think it had a chance (maybe Liane has an eye after all.... nah).

I guess what it boils down to, is you just never know. Unless, of course, you do.

These next four images are the Hovenweep series from the IPA competition.

Here's the Grand Canyon shot from the ICA.

This is the print showing in San Diego starting the 25th of April running through May 23rd.

And finally, here's where the Hobbits live. This is the print showing in Fort Collins starting from June 6th to July 3rd.

Intro

And so it is that I enter the blogosphere - to impart my words of wisdom for all the universe to read and learn. I am blogger – hear me roar!

By way of introducing myself to those that care: when I’m not blogger-man, I am photographer – hear me focus. My name is Gunnar Conrad and I am indeed a freelance Photographer living in Durango, Colorado and specializing in location/action/industrial/automotive etc. photography; in short, almost no studio work. www.gunnarconrad.com

I hope to use this blog to muse about photography, the creative process, the business of photography, my adventures, and life in general. I intend to create a log of my life and my work. It will be visual, as much, if not more, than written. Some images will most certainly be “not ready for prime time” snapshots of my life and adventures - images that would never make it into my website or portfolio, but that I like for whatever reason. My blog - my photos. I will also endeavor to highlight other photography and art that I enjoy, have taken inspiration from, or has influenced my work. Finally, I hope that the process of creating, however marginally, in another medium will tap into creative places within me that will in turn inform my photography.

Welcome to my world; my head; my ride; my lens; you should be very afraid.

Photography Durango.

Durango Photographer.